Policy Idol 2026 – registration and heat allocation

Policy Idol is an annual competition open to all current students at King’s, in which participants pitch their policy ideas to an elite panel of leading figures from the worlds of politics, academia and industry.

There are four cash prizes on offer at the competition. Here's what you can win:

• Overall winner: £1,000
• Audience prize: £250
• Best delivery: £500
• Best analysis: £500

You can enter by yourself or as part of a team, and on the day you will have just three minutes to present your idea to the judges, who will assess your pitch on the quality of delivery and the evidence and analysis underpinning it. The deadline for applications is the 31st January 2026.

Organised by the Policy Institute at King’s College London, the competition sees the best ideas selected in a series of heats, with standout pitches from each heat put through to the final. All finalists receive bespoke training in policy analysis and communications, as well as an opportunity to improve their pitch.

Heats will take place on the following days:

• Tuesday 10 February: 11:00-13:00 and 14:00-16:00
• Wednesday 11 February: 11:00-13:00 and 14:00-16:00
• Thursday 12 February: 14:00-16:00

All heats will take place in person at the Policy Institute, King’s College London.

The final will be on Wednesday 1 April and takes place in front of a live audience.

Judges to be announced soon.

Find out more about the competition.

Contact us if you have any further queries at: policy-institute@kcl.ac.uk